Choosing the Best Rechargeable Batteries for your Device

This article gives you great information on the popular dry cell battery types. Here you have everything to know about these batteries except a little bit of their history, which has been left to the Wikipedia’s of this world.  Before purchasing your next rechargeable batteries for your device, be sure to go through the following details and you come out better for it.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) – Lithium ion battery is commonly used in laptops, digital cameras, and cell phones. The battery is known to have a longer lifespan with partial discharges. Full discharges are never recommended and should not be frequent. A lithium-ion cell requires about 4.20Volts per cell to charge properly. It experiences no memory loss so you may leave them in the battery charger. The average lithium ion battery takes 3hrs to charge. It may take longer for multi-cell batteries. An example of a multi-cell battery is a laptop battery. Store your lithium ion battery in a cool environment preferable a slightly cool refrigerator but be sure it comes back to room temperature before usage. Storage should be at 40% discharge not full discharge because of accelerated aging. Lithium-ion batteries must be disposal of properly by recycling.

Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd) – These batteries have similar usages with lithium-ion batteries and are found in common devices including electric toys, wristwatches (as tiny button cells), and in photographic equipment. A nickel-cadmium battery typically loses 10% charge every month. It should last 2,000 cycles (full charge and discharge) and each cell produces roughly 1.27volts. Leaving battery in the charger for a period exceeding 2 days may lead to memory loss. NiCd batteries are best charged after a full discharge. Depending on the equipment been used, a nickel battery charges within a 3hr (for rapid charge) – 16 hr (slow charge) period with fast charges doing the job in one hour. Batteries are best stored in a cool place. Battery contains toxic metals. It must be recycled properly.

Nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) – NiMH batteries are found in electric carts, radio devices, medical equipment, etc. A nominal cell provides a voltage of approx. 1.2v. The battery possesses a cycle durability lasting between 500 – 1,000 full discharge cycles. It is a high-density battery capable of taking three times the capacity of NiCd batteries. A drawback of this advantage is its high self-disposal rate of 30% per month, although this figure is highly dependent on temperature. The charging voltage of a NiMH battery is between 1.2 to 1.4v per cell. Charging is best done with smart chargers that automatically turn themselves off when they capacity is fully charged. Overcharging causes serious damage to this type of battery resulting in a voltage drop and overheating from pressure conditions. NiMH and NiCd chargers are not interchangeable.